ログインBella’s POVI woke up to the smell of lavender.For a moment, I thought I was back in my old room at my father's house. The sheets were soft. The light was warm. Everything felt familiar.Then I opened my eyes.A figure was sitting across from me—a familiar one. I blinked. Once. Twice. Until my vision cleared."Lucia?" I managed to speak.She looked up from her phone, her expression shifting from worry to relief. "Hey. You're awake.""What are you—" I tried to sit up, but my head spun. I pressed my hand against my forehead. "What happened?""You collapsed." Lucia set her phone down and leaned forward. "I came in not too long ago. The staff called for help. And they called Zayden. He's on his way home."I stared at her. “How long have I been out?”"You've been out for about an hour," she said. "They brought a nurse in. She said it was exhaustion. Stress. Dehydration. The usual stuff that causes fainting spells like this."I didn't answer.Lucia studied me. Her eyes moved over my face—
Zayden’s POV“It seems like we’re done here,” Nico said, walking toward me. “The package has been carefully counted and we will start supplying first thing tomorrow morning.”“Good.” I breathed. “Now we can focus on other matters. What were you saying about meeting Alejandro personally?” “I reached out when you asked me to. I don’t think he was in the right frame of mind to talk to me.”“Why do you say so?” I asked.“Well, he was very specific in his response.” Nico shrugged. “And what response would that be?”“He yelled, and I quote…’I am not going to the home of that slimy fucking daughter thieving snake.” Nico exhaled. “Seems like you have a long way to go with your father-in-law.”I let out a breath. “I have no idea why Bella wants them around. She is afraid, I get it, but having Alejandro in my home…that’s going to take a lot from me.”“Well, Bella is your wife,” Nico said. “You signed up for this. How do you plan to take it from here?”I thought for a minute then I grunted. “F
Bella’s POV I sat apple-crossed on my bed, pretending to read. The same book had been open on my lap for an hour, but I hadn't turned a single page. My eyes kept drifting to the windows. To the doors. To the guards stationed at every exit. Zayden said he would come home soon. So I was waiting. He was the only one who made me feel safe. My phone buzzed on the bed and I shook. My heart began to tighten as though it knew who was calling. I took a deep breath and picked it up. It was an unknown number. My breath quickened. I shouldn’t answer. But something told me if I didn’t, things would get worse. So I answered the phone. "Bella." Hiram's voice was warm. Almost gentle. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." "What do you want?" “Calm down, Principessa.” He said softly. “We’re not here to fight.” “But that’s the only thing you know how to do.” My voice shook as I spoke. “Fight. Kill. Threaten.” Hiram exhaled sharply. “It saddens me to hear you speak like this Bell
Zayden’s POVThe loading docks smelled like diesel, metal, and cocaine.Something I was used to in this business.I stood at the edge of the pier, hands in my coat pockets, watching the cargo ship ease into its berth. The city lights were distant, blurred by fog.The only sound was the low rumble of the engines and the water slapping against the pilings. A man in a grease-stained jacket walked down, flanked by two others. He was older, grey at the temples, but I knew him too well.“Antonio.” I hailed him. “Welcome.”"Signore Romano." He stopped a few feet away, nodding once. "Apologies for the delay. We had a situation.""What kind of situation?""Coast guard. We had to reroute." He gestured behind him. "But the cargo is intact. Every kilo."I walked closer and stood beside the open container, watching one of my men pull the first package from the stack. "Open it."He sliced through the wrapping and handed me the brick. I cut into the corner, rubbed the powder between my fingers, an
Bella’s POV“It’s Marcello, Bella. We need to have a little chat.” He said softly.I swallowed. My heart pounded like it was about to escape. “Hiram.”“Bella.” He let out a breath, almost a sigh. “I would really like it if you could call me Marcello.”“How did you get my number?” I asked him.“Really, is that your best question?” “What do you want?” My voice shook.“You sound frightened Bella.” He said too calmly. “And that bothers me.”“You threatened my brother. Of course, I’m frightened.”I took a peek from the bathroom door. Zayden still wasn’t back.“Do not worry about your brother,” Hiram said. “He is tongue-deep in the cunt of a girl he just met. And I do not like to ruin people's pleasures.”I could hear him smile over the phone. “And now that I've got your attention. We can move on.”“What do you want with me?” I asked again. “Why are you calling? And how did you get my number?”“I want you Bella.” He said. “And you do not have to ask me how I know the things that I know, be
Bella’s POVI watched his jaw tighten, his eyes fixed on the ceiling."I don't think that's a good idea tonight," he said finally."Why not?""Because you've had enough for one day. You don't need me to dump the rest of my world on you right now."I sat up. "Zayden—""I'm serious, Bella." He turned to look at me. "You just found out something huge. You've been angry and crying for hours. That's enough. You don't need more.""I thought we decided that you can’t make those choices for me anymore." He exhaled. "I know. I’m sorry.”"Then tell me."He was quiet for a long moment. Then he spoke, his voice lower now."He was waiting for me when I arrived. He and two of his men."I stayed quiet, listening."He offered me a drink. A girl poured it. He made her taste it first—a test. To show me I was safe, and to remind me that I wasn't."I felt something cold settle in my stomach."He talked about the gala first. Then Matteo. The old days. And then he brought you up.""What did he say?"Zayde
Bella’s POVI stood at my bedroom window for what felt like hours, watching the dark driveway like a prisoner waiting for parole.I’d chosen the most modest thing I could find: a long red silk dress that covered everything, I twisted my hair into a sleek bun, and the diamonds in my ears screamed “M
Bella’s POV I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling the weight of my father’s words crush me over and over again. Ten days. Ten fucking days to become Matteo Moretti’s property. Ten days to lose my freedom, my future, my name. He kept acting like this was normal—like sellin
Bella’s POVI woke to the sound of my bedroom door creaking open. Rosa slipped in carrying a garment bag over one arm and a silver tray of cosmetics in the other. The smell of fresh espresso and warm cornetti followed her, but my stomach still turned.“Buongiorno, mija,” she whispered, eyes soft w
Bella’s POV The flight back to Venice dragged like a death sentence, but I didn’t sleep. I kept picturing my mother’s arms around me the second we landed. She was the only one who never obeyed Dad’s order to cut me off completely. Secret bank transfers. Burner phones at 2 a.m. just to hear







